Justin Crawford Will Start 2025 in Triple-A

We won’t see #3 Phillies prospect Justin Crawford in the pros just yet, but he’s now one step closer. Crawford is set to start the 2025 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in AAA, per Chase Ford of MiLB Central:

Justin Crawford will begin the 2025 season in Triple-A with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

The outfielder had a .364 batting average in 8 games this spring for Philadelphia.

— Chase Ford (@_chaseford) March 21, 2025

Crawford finished the 2024 season in Reading (AA), slashing .333/.380/.455 with an .834 OPS. The 21-year-old Phillies prospect had 11 ABs in pro camp this spring before being sent to minor league camp, logging four hits, four runs scored, two stolen bases, and a .364 batting average while also having a few beautiful catches in the outfield.

We all know the Phillies’ centerfield situation over the last few years. It’s been a mix of Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas, with Marsh now leading the way in the race. Marsh is expected to play every day to start the season, even against lefties. But if there’s area of the field that isn’t completely locked in for the future, it’s the outfield.

Max Kepler will be a free agent after this season. Nick Castellanos has two years remaining on his contract. The starting outfielder on the roster who is under team control for the longest is Marsh, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2027 season. The Phillies like Crawford. Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies front office were hesitant about dealing Crawford over the last year due to the thin outfield depth and the potential of the young prospect.

This will be the first time that Crawford will play for Lehigh Valley. Depending on how Rojas plays off of the bench this season, a call-up late in the summer could be in the cards for Crawford if he has an impressive start to his 2025 campaign.

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